BlackRock zeroes in on 50 Hudson Yards for headquarters

BlackRock is in talks with Related Companies to move its headquarters to 50 Hudson Yards.

The asset manager is negotiating to take 850,000 square feet at the planned 62-story office tower, the Wall Street Journal reported. The firm, which manages $5.1 trillion in assets, had also eyed Tishman Speyer’s the Spiral at 509 West 34th Street, but, according to the Journal, seems to be leaning toward Related’s property. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the biggest office leases in the city this year.

BlackRock currently leases 700,000 square feet in two buildings – Fisher Brothers and Soho China’s 55 East 52nd Street and Rudin Management’s 40 East 52nd Street. The leases expire in 2023. At last check, the average asking rents for flashy office space in Midtown was about $82 per square foot. That translates to BlackRock spending $69.7 million annually for the space at 50 Hudson Yards, though rent will likely vary.

The firm is expected to make a final decision as early as by the end of November.